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H0084 The study's number for this person. Cite it and it will always lead here, whatever the spelling.
· A life in the study

Helen Artlea Wilson

Born at Noel in 1908 and died in 1999.

born 6 May 1908 at Noel, McDonald died 30 Mar 1999

Also written Helen A. Davies, Helen A. Fulbright, Artlea Fulbright, Artla Fulbright, Artella Wilson
and 1 more Hellen A. Willson

Missouri and Oklahoma

Helen Artlea Wilson was born on 6 May 1908 at Noel, in McDonald County, Missouri, the third child and eldest daughter of James Israel Wilson and Lucy M. Harris.1–3 Her unusual middle name gave the census takers trouble: in 1910 she was "Artella", and in 1940 "Artla". She herself wrote it Artlea, and as a young woman it seems to have been the name she went by.3–5

In April 1910 Artella, two, was living on the family's farm in Elk River Township, around Noel, with her older brothers Cyril and Tulla and the baby, Floyd.3 Within a few years the family had moved into Delaware County, Oklahoma, and in January 1920 "Hellen A.", twelve, was the eldest girl among nine children on a farm in the Bernice precinct.6 About 1924 the family made the long move to Grays Harbor, on the Washington coast, and Helen spent most of her life there.5

Mrs. Clarence Fulbright

Helen married Clarence Fulbright, a North Carolina man about five years older than herself, probably by about 1927, and they had two daughters.4 In April 1940 the Fulbrights were renting at 418 North Division Street in Aberdeen. Helen's mother, Lucy, by then living apart from Helen's father, had rooms of her own at the same address. Lucy had been ill with tuberculosis for several years, and she died there on 3 May 1940. Helen gave the particulars for her death certificate and signed it "Mrs. Artlea Fulbright".4–5

When her brother Woodrow died in 1966, Helen was still Mrs. Clarence Fulbright, of Aberdeen. Her sister Millie (Mrs. Joe Pearson) and her brother Odis also lived in Aberdeen, and her sister Ruth (Mrs. Ruth Martin) down the harbor at Westport.7 She was still Helen A. Fulbright when she claimed her Social Security benefits in 1970.1

Later years

In January 1979, at seventy, Helen married William Robert Davies. They applied for a licence in Thurston County on 4 January, and the Washington marriage index places the marriage in Grays Harbor County nine days later; the application names her parents as James and Lucy Wilson.2, 8 She was Helen Davies for the last twenty years of her life. She died on 30 March 1999, at the age of ninety.1

What we know

Proven

  • Birth at Noel, 1908
  • Marriage to Clarence Fulbright, 1940
  • Marriage to William Robert Davies at Grays Harbor County, 1979
  • Death, 1999
  • 4 homes, from the census and other records

What's still open

  • Clarence Fulbright. No record of the marriage has been found; the Grays Harbor County marriage records (Washington State Digital Archives) are the first place to look.
  • William Robert Davies. The application index (4 Jan 1979, Thurston County) names him.
  • Death. 30 Mar 1999, from her Social Security record; the place is not given there.
  • Sources. Her census facts come from the index entries attached to her in the Ancestry tree; the 1920 and 1940 census images and her mother's death certificate were read in the surveys of her parents and her brother Woodrow, and the 1910 image has not been viewed.

Sources

Sources 1–3

1 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1908
2 Washington, U.S., Marriage Records, 1979
3 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Elk River Township

Sources 4–5

4 1940 U.S. Federal Census, Aberdeen, 1935
5 Washington State Department of Health, Certificate of Death, 1940

Source 6

6 1920 U.S. Federal Census, Township 5

Source 7

7 The News Tribune, 1966

Source 8

8 Washington, U.S., Marriage Index, 1979

Life in time

6 May 1908

Birth , Noel, McDonald, Missouri, United States

proven Sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 6

How we know

  1. 1908 Birth 6 May 1908 · Noel, McDonald · proven

    Her Social Security record gives Noel; her marriage application of 1979 gives the date and the state.

    Her Social Security record, which names her parents as James E. [James I.] Wilson and Lucy M. Harris, gives 6 May 1908 at Noel, Missouri, and her marriage application of 1979, which names her parents as James and Lucy Wilson, gives 6 May 1908 in Missouri. Her ages in 1910 (2), 1920 (12) and 1940 (32) fit. Her parents were of Noel when they married in 1903 and were farming in Elk River Township, around Noel, in 1910.

    Sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 6

  2. 1910 Residence Elk River Township, McDonald · proven

    E.D. 110, sheet 3B. Daughter "Artella" [Helen Artlea], 2, in the household of her parents, James ("Jim F." in the index) and Lucy Wilson, with her brothers Searel [Cyril], Tulla and Floyd.

    Her parents and brothers, and her age, identify her. Index entry attached to her in the family tree; image not re-read.

    Source 3

  3. 1920 Residence Delaware County, Oklahoma · proven

    Township 5 (Bernice precinct), E.D. 22, sheet 10A; a farm family, enumerated 29–30 Jan 1920. Daughter "Hellen A.", 12, born Missouri, in the household of James I. and Lucy M. Willson, with eight brothers and sisters.

    Her parents and the brothers of the 1910 household, with five children born since, identify her. The 1920 image was read in the survey of her brother Woodrow's records.

    Source 6

  4. 1940 Residence Aberdeen, Grays Harbor · proven

    418 North Division Street (E.D. 14-21, sheet 6B), household 171, rented. "Artla", wife, 32, born Missouri, with her husband Clarence Fulbright and their two daughters; her mother, Lucy Wilson, lived alone at the same address (household 172). She was still at 418 North Division Street in May 1940.

    The 1940 census image was read in the survey of her parents; her age, her birthplace and her mother's household at the same number identify her. Her mother's death certificate of 3 May 1940 gives the informant, Mrs. Artlea Fulbright, at the same address.

    Sources 4, 5

  5. 1940 Marriage, with Clarence Fulbright before 1 Apr 1940 · proven

    Married by April 1940, and probably by about 1927, when the elder of their two daughters (possibly living; not named) was born in Washington. No marriage record has been found. He was 37 [reading] in 1940 and born in North Carolina.

    In the census of April 1940 "Artla" Fulbright, 32, born Missouri, is the wife of Clarence Fulbright, with two daughters, at her mother's address; five weeks later she signed her mother's death certificate as Mrs. Artlea Fulbright. In 1966 her brother Woodrow's obituary names her as Mrs. Clarence Fulbright, of Aberdeen, and she was Helen A. Fulbright in her Social Security record of 1970 and on her marriage application of 1979.

    Sources 1, 2, 4, 5, 7

  6. 1966 Residence Nov 1966 · Aberdeen, Grays Harbor · proven

    "Mrs. Clarence Fulbright, of Aberdeen", a surviving sister, in her brother Woodrow's obituary.

    The obituary of her brother Woodrow names his three surviving sisters by their married names; Mrs. Clarence Fulbright is Helen (see the marriage above).

    Source 7

  7. 1979 Marriage, with William Robert Davies 13 Jan 1979 · Grays Harbor County, Washington · proven

    Application 4 Jan 1979 in Thurston County, as Helen A. Fulbright, aged 70; marriage 13 Jan 1979 in Grays Harbor County according to the Washington marriage index as attached in the old family tree (not re-read). She was Helen A. Davies to the Social Security Administration from 14 Mar 1979.

    The index of Washington marriage records gives the application of Helen A. Fulbright, 70, born 6 May 1908 in Missouri, daughter of James Wilson and Lucy Wilson, to marry William Robert Davies, in Thurston County on 4 Jan 1979. The Washington marriage index (1969–2017), as attached in the old family tree, gives the marriage on 13 Jan 1979 in Grays Harbor County; it has not been re-read here, but its date falls between the application and her change of name to Helen A. Davies in her Social Security record (14 Mar 1979).

    Sources 1, 2, 8

  8. 1999 Death 30 Mar 1999 · proven

    As Helen Davies. The place is not stated in the record seen; the family tree gives Aberdeen (see Research Notes).

    Her Social Security record, which names both her parents (James E. [I.] Wilson and Lucy M. Harris) and her birth on 6 May 1908 at Noel, gives her death on 30 Mar 1999 and her names Fulbright and Davies.

    Source 1

  • proven

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Places in this life

5 places, in order
1 2 3 4 5
  1. 1 Noel, McDonald County Birth 6 May 1908
  2. 2 Elk River Township, McDonald County Residence 1910
  3. 3 Delaware County, Oklahoma Residence 1920
  4. 4 Aberdeen, Grays Harbor County Residence 1940 · Residence Nov 1966
  5. 5 Grays Harbor County, Washington Marriage 13 Jan 1979

Hollow markers are placed approximately, at the town, county or region.

Family

Father James Israel Wilson 1882–1941 Mother Lucy M. Harris 1883–1940
This page Helen Artlea Wilson 1908–1999
Husband · m. before 1 Apr 1940 Clarence Fulbright c. 1903–aft. 1940 Husband · m. 13 Jan 1979 William Robert Davies 1925–aft. 1979
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Records

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Deaths and burials 1 record · 1966
  • 4 Nov 1966 confirmed Obituary of brother Woodrow “Clarence (Mrs.) Fulbright”, sister Tacoma, Pierce County Newspapers.com · O06305
The evidence 8 facts with their grades, 8 sources, and the research notes

Facts

Fact Date Place Grade Sources
Birth 6 May 1908 Noel, McDonald, Missouri, United States proven 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6
Residence 1910 Elk River Township, McDonald, Missouri, United States proven 3
Residence 1920 Delaware County, Oklahoma, United States proven 6
Residence 1940 Aberdeen, Grays Harbor, Washington, United States proven 4 , 5
Marriage with Clarence Fulbright before 1 Apr 1940 proven 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7
Residence Nov 1966 Aberdeen, Grays Harbor, Washington, United States proven 7
Marriage with William Robert Davies 13 Jan 1979 Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States proven 1 , 2 , 8
Death 30 Mar 1999 proven 1

Research notes

  • Identity: The records are linked as one woman as follows. (1) "Artella", 2, in 1910 and "Hellen A.", 12, in 1920 are the eldest daughter of James and Lucy Wilson.3, 6 (2) In April 1940 "Artla" Fulbright, 32, born in Missouri, is living at the same address as Lucy Wilson, and five weeks later Mrs. Artlea Fulbright of that address is the informant for Lucy's death certificate.4, 5 (3) In 1966 Mrs. Clarence Fulbright of Aberdeen is a sister of Woodrow E. Wilson.7 (4) In 1979 Helen A. Fulbright, born 6 May 1908 in Missouri, is the daughter of James and Lucy Wilson.2 (5) Her Social Security record gives Helen A. Davies, also Fulbright and Wilson, born 6 May 1908 at Noel, daughter of "James E." Wilson and Lucy M. Harris, died 30 Mar 1999.1 The 1979 record and the Social Security record tie the name Helen A. to the married names Fulbright and Davies.
  • Name: Artella (1910), Artla (1940) and Artlea (her own spelling, 1940) are the same middle name.3, 4, 5 The 1920 census spells her surname Willson, as the Ancestry tree does; her father is Wilson in every other record.6 Her Social Security record's "James E" for her father is a one-letter slip for James I.1
  • Birth: 6 May 1908 at Noel, Missouri, in her Social Security record; 6 May 1908, Missouri, on her marriage application.1, 2
  • Clarence Fulbright: No record of the marriage has been found; the Grays Harbor County marriage records (Washington State Digital Archives) are the first place to look. He was 37 [reading] in April 1940 and born in North Carolina, so born about 1903; his later life and death have not been traced. Their two daughters, born about 1927–28 in Washington, are treated as possibly living and are not named.4 How the marriage ended (his death or a divorce, before 1979) is not known.
  • William Robert Davies: The application index (4 Jan 1979, Thurston County) names him.2 The old family tree attaches the Washington marriage index (1969–2017), which gives the marriage on 13 Jan 1979 in Grays Harbor County, and a marriage record that gives his birth as 12 Nov 1925 at Aberdeen; neither has been re-read here.8 Born more than 100 years ago, he is treated as deceased under the study's rule, but his death has not been found.
  • Death: 30 Mar 1999, from her Social Security record; the place is not given there.1 The family tree's Aberdeen is a lead: the Washington death index for 1999 (under Davies) should confirm it and give the county.
  • Sources: Her census facts come from the index entries attached to her in the Ancestry tree; the 1920 and 1940 census images and her mother's death certificate were read in the surveys of her parents and her brother Woodrow, and the 1910 image has not been viewed. The 1979 application is known from Ancestry's index only. Her Social Security record was read on 27 Sep 2026.

Working notes

  • AKA Willson; tree-only death (unsourced lead): 30 March 1999 Aberdeen, Grays Harbor, Washington, USA
  • SS claims index (names both parents): d. 30 Mar 1999; place a lead (Aberdeen)
  • 2nd marriage William Robert Davies (H0319) 13 Jan 1979 Grays Harbor Co. (index in old tree)

Sources

  1. 1

    "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007," database, Ancestry.com, Helen A Davies [also Helen A Fulbright; Helen Davies; Helen A Wilson], female, born 6 May 1908, Noel, Missouri; died 30 March 1999; father James E [sic: James I.] Wilson; mother Lucy M Harris; claim 21 May 1970; name listed as Helen A Fulbright on 20 May 1970, Helen A Davies on 14 March 1979 and Helen Davies on 10 April 1999 (index read 27 September 2026).

    Ancestry

  2. 2

    "Washington, U.S., Marriage Records, 1854–2013," database with images, Ancestry.com, marriage application, Thurston County, Washington, 4 January 1979: Helen A. Fulbright [née Wilson], 70, born 6 May 1908, Missouri; father James Wilson; mother Lucy Wilson; spouse William Robert Davies (image 45654_B281539-00803, not viewed).

    Ancestry

  3. 3

    1910 U.S. Federal Census, Elk River Township, McDonald County, Missouri, E.D. 110, sheet 3B: "Jim F." [so indexed; also "Jim J."] Wilson (head, 27, married six years, born Arkansas, father born Arkansas, mother born Missouri; farmer, home farm, working on his own account; owns his farm, mortgaged; can read and write), with Lucy (wife, 25, married six years, mother of four children, all living, born Arkansas) and their children Searel [Cyril] (5), Tulla (3), Artella [Helen Artlea] (2) and Floyd (under 1); NARA T624, roll 797; FHL microfilm 1374810; database with images, Ancestry.com (index read; image not viewed).

    Ancestry

  4. 4

    1940 U.S. Federal Census, Aberdeen, Grays Harbor County, Washington, E.D. 14-21, sheet 6B, line 71, household 172, 418 [North Division Street], rented: Lucy Wilson (head and the respondent, 56, "Wd" [widowed], highest grade completed 5, born Missouri; same place in 1935; no work or income in 1939), living alone; at the same address, household 171, her daughter Artla [Helen Artlea] and son-in-law Clarence Fulbright with their two daughters [names withheld]; roll m-t0627-04340; image m-t0627-04340-00410; database with images, Ancestry.com. James is not in the household.

  5. 5

    Washington State Department of Health, Certificate of Death, state file no. 120 (1940), registrar's no. 122, Lucy M. Wilson: died 3 May 1940 at 6.15 p.m. at her home, 418 North Division, Aberdeen, Grays Harbor County (16 years in the community); female; white; married; husband Jas. I. Wilson, living, aged 57; born November 25, 1883, Sulphur Springs, Arkansas; age 56 years, 5 months, 8 days; father John Harris, born Arkansas; mother's maiden name "No Record"; informant Mrs. Artlea Fulbright [her daughter], 418 No. Division St.; cause pulmonary tuberculosis; burial 7 May 1940, Fern Hill, Aberdeen; Elerding Mortuary; image, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives, "Death Certificates, 1907–2001," document reference id 120 (digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/7ED66F8EA761224C6D93A644DF8EE32A).

  6. 6

    1920 U.S. Federal Census, Township 5 (Bernice precinct), Delaware County, Oklahoma, E.D. 22, sheet 10A, lines 17–27, enumerated 29–30 January 1920, "Elza W Willson" (son, 2, born Missouri) in the household of James I. Willson (head, 37, born Arkansas; farm), with Lucy M. (wife, 35, born Missouri) and their children Cyril (15), Tulla D. (13), Hellen A. (12), Floyd P. (10), Odis A. (6), Ruth E. (4), Jewel L. (3), Elza W. (2) and Millie M. (under one year), all born Missouri; NARA T625, roll 1458; image 4385099_00298; database with images, Ancestry.com.

    Ancestry

  7. 7

    "Man Found Dead In His Auto," The News Tribune (Tacoma, Washington), 4 November 1966, p. 40 (C-14): Woodrow E. Wilson, 49, of Puyallup, who came to the area from Aberdeen in September, was found dead Thursday afternoon [3 November]; born in Oklahoma, he came to the Northwest as a boy; millworker for the Weyerhaeuser Company's White River mill at Enumclaw; Army veteran of World War II; survived by his wife, two sons and five daughters [names withheld: living], three sisters, Mrs. Clarence Fulbright and Mrs. Joe Pearson, both of Aberdeen, and Mrs. Ruth Martin, of Westport, a brother, Otis, of Aberdeen, and six grandchildren; services to be announced by the Powers Wrigley Clements Funeral Home, Puyallup; image, Newspapers.com (newspapers.com/image/734891548).

  8. 8

    "Washington, U.S., Marriage Index, 1969–2017," database, Ancestry.com, citing Washington State Archives: Helen A. Fulbright and William Robert Davies, married 13 January 1979, Grays Harbor County, Washington (as attached to both of them in the old Hegnauer family tree on Ancestry; the index entries have not been re-read in this study).

    Ancestry